CHITWAN, May 22: Cricket fans in Nepal are euphoric with Sandeep Lamichhane’s outstanding performance in the last Sunday’s match held under the ongoing Indian Premier League.

Social media sites and media at home were flooded with words of praise dedicated to the 17 years old leg- spinner who has also made immense contribution to the Nepali cricket as well.

In the Sunday’s match under IPL between the Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians, he, playing for the Daredevils took three wickets, earning huge applauds from cricket fans especially at home and abroad.

Chitwan, being the hometown of Sandeep, was, is and will be obviously proud of his success. The house of Sandeep lies at Chhitrasari of Ratnanagar Municipality-8 in east Chitwan. The family became the center of attraction with his superb performance in the India’s cash-rich T20 league.

Sandeep’s parents – Kopila Devi Lamichhane (mother) and Chandra Narayan (father) – are much happy to see their child on television screen giving his best performance in the IPL. They feel really proud to witness Sandeep’s this great achievement.

Sandeep’s father who had spent 38 years in service at an Indian railway station remembered him as a child with keen interest in cricket, but his practice had begun just at the age of 13.

The Lamichhane couple described Sandip as just their biological child. “Now he has become child of entire Nepal,” the couple said proudly. Sandeep’s family had never thought that he who started taking up ball and bat at 13 years would spread his wings and fly farther in this short span of time.

The couple said they are overwhelmed with happiness to see their son getting love, limelight and good wishes from around 30 million Nepalis and cricket fans across the nation and world.

He rose to fame following his induction into Delhi Daredevils, and the number of his well-wishers and villagers visiting his house is increasing following his outstanding play in the ongoing IPL.

Sandeep had made his debut for the Daredevils in IPL on May 12, after some months of the Daredevils decision to buy him at INR two million at auction. He is the first ever Nepali cricketer selected by the Indian cricket club for the IPL.

Kopila Devi wanted Sandeep to pursue engineering, but he had great interest in cricket, and ultimately chased his passion. “Now he has got what he wanted. I am happy for him and proud of him,” she said.

Chandra Narayan felt that there was a delay in giving an IPL chance for Sandeep when he was allowed into only last three IPL matches. “They might not have trusted him (Sandeep) in the beginning. However he performed well in the end,” he said.

Rastriya Samachar Samiti caught up with Chandra Narayan at 11 am on Sunday just before Sandeep was due to embarking on his last IPL match. “He told us that he was playing today. He also asked for our wellbeing,” said Chandra Narayan.

Sandeep continues making his impact in international cricket, as he is chosen in the ICC World XI squad to play against West Indies in a charity T20 International on May 31.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also mentioned Sandeep while giving a statement at a civic felicitation in his honor given by Kathmandu Metropolis on May 12, the day the lad from Nepal made his debut in IPL. The Indian PM was on a state visit to Nepal on May 11 and 12.

The Lamichhane family had migrated to Chitwan from Aaruchaur (now Arjunchaupari Rural Municipality) in Syangja where Sandeep was born as the youngest child among five to Kopiladevi and Chandra Narayan. RSS